LONDON, July 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The UK government will lead a coalition of

around a dozen European countries to step up funding for the next generation

of long-range missiles designed to protect Europe, the UK government said on

Wednesday.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was set to unveil details of the programme at the

NATO summit in Ankara.

The premier would "convene around a dozen European partners at the summit

today to launch the new initiative, which is expected to announce that allies

will spend $50 billion (o37 billion) over the next 10 years to develop deep

precision strike capabilities to bolster defence and deterrence across the

alliance", his Downing Street office said in a statement.

The investment would "deliver the most advanced weapons NATO will have at its

disposal in the future -- with the ability to strike targets no less than 300

kilometres (186 miles) away and in some cases beyond 2,000 km, with pinpoint

accuracy", it added.

Starmer on Wednesday urged leaders to "show the unity and the strength of

NATO" against a background of the Ukraine conflict and the US war with Iran.

"We must continue to work together as allies to develop the capability of the

future to bolster security and protect growth at home," he added in a

statement.

The summit comes at a fraught time for the 77-year-old transatlantic

alliance, with US President Donald Trump lashing out at allies as Washington

steps back from Europe.

The second day of the tense summit in the Turkish capital saw Trump pose for

the traditional family photo of 32 NATO leaders, before taking part in a

working session and holding a highly anticipated meeting with Ukrainian

President Volodymyr Zelensky.

BSS/AFP/SSS/1607 hrs